Mara's Hat

I wrote and shared this some time ago but now its time to put it here for all the world to use and love!

This is a fun little hat with cables and lots of texture but is so easy to do that its good for even an advanced beginner.

To fit baby(toddler, child)

1- 16” #8 circular
1 set of #8 dpns
11 stitch markers or scrap yarn
tapestry needle

Gauge: 4.5 sts = 1” and 6.5 rows =1”
Lamb's Pride

Cast on 72(80, 88)
Join in round adding stitch marker A at beginning of round

Row 1: *k6, p2* repeat till end of round
Row 2: Same as row 1
Row 3: *sl 1, k2, psso, sl 1, k2, psso, p2* repeat till end of round
Row 4: *k1, m1, k1, k1, m1, k1, p2* repeat till end of round

Repeat rows 1-4 two (two, three) times.

Row 13-14: same as row 1

Row 15: purl around
Row 16-18: knit around
Row 19: purl around

Baby and Toddler:

Rows 20-29: knit in stockinette
[Variation for a longer fitting hat, current pattern produces a very short hat that sits above the bangs, continue stockinette for 5 additional rows, not recommended for baby size]

Row 30: add stitch markers as follows
K6, add marker, k2, add marker, *k14, add marker, k2 add marker* repeat until end of round (8 stitches will remain after last marker and before marker A)

Start decrease rows (move to dpns when project no longer fits on circular) disregard marker A, this marker is only used to let you know when to begin each row’s directions

Row 31: *knit until 2 sts before marker, k2tog, k2, ssk* repeat till end of row
Row 32: k around

33-40: same as row 31 on odd rows and same as row 32 on even rows
(baby:64 sts on row 31, 56 sts on row 33, 48 sts on row 35, 40 sts on row 37, 32 sts on row 39, 24 sts row 41, 16 sts at beginning of row 43)
( toddler: 70 sts on row 31, 60 sts on row 33, 50 sts on row 36, 40 sts on row 37, 30 sts on row 39, 20 sts on row 41, 10 sts at beginning of row 43)

41-43: *k2tog* repeat around

Break yarn leaving 6” tail, thread tapestry needle, run tail through live stitches, weave in loose ends

Child:
Rows 20-39: knit in stockinette

Row 40: add stitch markers as follows
K6, add marker, k2, add marker, *k14, add marker, k2 add marker* repeat till end of row, 8 stitches will remain between last marker and marker A

Start decrease rows (move to dpns when project no longer fits on circular) disregard Marker A for decrease directions

Row 41: *knit until 2 sts before marker, k2tog, k2, ssk* repeat till end of row
Row 42: k around

43-50: same as row 41 on odd rows and same as row 42 on even rows
(64 sts on row 43, 52sts on row 45, 40 sts on row 47, 28 sts on row 49, 16 sts at beginning of row 51)

51: *k2tog* repeat around

Break yarn leaving 6” tail, thread tapestry needle, run tail through live stitches, weave in loose ends


Index of terms:
k knit
p purl
m1 make one stitch, I prefer to lift the bar between sts from front to back and then knit into the back
psso pass slipped stitch[es] over
SSK slip 2 stitches as if to knit, knit 2 stitches together
K2tog knit two stitches together


(here is a baby size on a toddler head)